To the Editor: In their clinical trials of
varenicline for smoking cessation, Dr Gonzales and colleagues,1 Dr
Jorenby and colleagues,2 and Dr Tonstad and
colleagues3 used broad exclusion criteria,
particularly for psychiatric disorders of major depressive disorder within
the past year; history of or a current panic disorder, psychosis, bipolar
disorder, or eating disorder; or alcohol or drug abuse or dependency within
the past year. In addition, Tonstad et al3 excluded
potential participants who were taking antidepressants, antipsychotics, or
mood stabilizers or anticonvulsants.